System and method for look-ahead call completion

Abstract

A method for providing directory assistance includes receiving a communication from a requester for a business listing and retrieving at least one first listing in response. At least one signal indicative of the status of the listing retrieved is received, and if negative, such status is conveyed to the requester. A second option is then offered to the requester, where the second option offered to the requester is for a second listing related to a same category of business as the first listing.

1 . A method for providing directory assistance, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a communication from a requester for a business listing;   retrieving at least one first listing in response to said request;   receiving at least one signal indicative of the status of said listing retrieved in response to said request;   if said signal indicative of the status of said listing is negative, conveying said status to said requester;   offering a second option to said requester, wherein said second option offered to said requester is for a second listing related to a same category of business as said first listing.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said communication from a requester for a business listing is either one of a category type request or a specific listing request. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second option, offered to said requester is for a second listing related to a same category of business as said first listing, is a paid advertiser. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said signal, indicative of the status of said listing, is negative if conditions are such that requester can not connect with said first listing. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of retrieving a plurality of listings in response to said request, including said first listing and at least one of said second listings, such that if said second option is offered to said requester, said second listing for said offering is already retrieved without further searching. 
     
     
         6 . A system for providing directory assistance, said system comprising:
 an interface for receiving a communication from a requester for a business listing;   a directory assistance platform for retrieving at least one listing from a database in response to said request;   a look-ahead module for receiving at least one signal indicative of the status of said listing retrieved in response to said request, wherein if said signal is negative, conveying said status to said requester and offering a second option to said requester, with the second option being for a second listing related to a same category of business as said first listing.   
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising an advertising module for storing information regarding business listings, such that said second listing, provided to said requester is based on information contained in said advertising module. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing directory assistance, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a communication from a requester for a municipal listing;   retrieving at least one listing in response to said request;   receiving at least one signal indicative of the status of said listing retrieved in response to said request;   if said signal indicative of the status of said listing is negative, conveying said status to said requester;   offering a second option to said requester, wherein said second option offered to said requester is for information that is otherwise provided by said requested municipal listing.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said information that is otherwise provided by said requested municipal listing is received from said municipal listing. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said information that is otherwise provided by said requested municipal listing is selected from the group consisting of: amber alerts, town hall meetings, civil defense issues, nuclear emergencies, community emergencies, community events, traffic issues and public transportation alerts.